Ordinary fillings can be used to repair small to moderate areas of decay or damage. Larger areas have to be mended in a different way, and your dentist in Toronto may suggest a porcelain crown, or an inlay or onlay. These restorations help restore strength and integrity to damaged teeth, and will make them look like new. Porcelain crowns, inlays and onlays usually have to be hand-crafted in a dental laboratory, a process that normally takes a couple of weeks and at least two appointments to complete.

Although you may have heard of these terms, most people will not know what they mean or how these restorations work. An inlay replaces the chewing surfaces of back teeth. An onlay is a little larger and can replace the chewing surface as well as the outer edges or cusps of these teeth. A larger onlay may also be called a three-quarter crown. Both of these restorations leave some of the natural tooth structure exposed.

Dental crowns are also called caps and fit over the entire tooth, covering it up completely right down to the gum line. They are used to protect teeth that have lost a substantial part of their structure. There are various types of dental crowns that can be used as they can be all metal, metal fused to porcelain, or made entirely from porcelain. Porcelain crowns are usually recommended for restoring front teeth, while metal or metal fused to porcelain have traditionally been used for restoring back teeth. However today’s modern porcelains are often strong enough to restore back teeth, and can withstand the pressures generated through chewing.

Your dentist in Toronto will need to prepare the tooth, removing all the decay and infection before taking an impression to send to the dental laboratory. A skilled dental technician can custom-make your restoration to your dentist’s prescription. In the meantime, your dentist will fit a temporary restoration to protect your prepared tooth. You can return to your dental office approximately two weeks later to have your inlay, onlay or crown fitted and permanently bonded in place.